ambition

• What drives the plot of Macbeth forward?

  The Macbeths' manipulative ambition
• How do the Macbeths exploit those around them?

  To improve their position in the social hierarchy
• What effect does ambition have on Macbeth's character?

  It causes him to lose his nobility and become violent
• What psychological consequences does Macbeth face due to his ambition?

  He suffers deep remorse and guilt
• What ultimately happens to Lady Macbeth as a result of her ambition?

  She commits suicide
• What societal context influenced the writing of Macbeth?

  Importance of societal status in Jacobean period
• When was Macbeth most likely written?

  1606
• Why does Macbeth take the Witches' prophecies seriously?

  Because societal status was highly valued
• What causes tension in the play Macbeth?

  A battle over names and titles
• How is ambition viewed in Jacobean and Elizabethan England?

  As a dangerous quality to possess
• What is the Great Chain of Being?

  A hierarchy of all beings in the universe
• What happens to those who try to rise above their rank in the Great Chain of Being?

  They are believed to be going against God
• How does Macbeth describe his ambitions?

  As "black and deep desires"
• What are two key sources of Macbeth's ambition?

  The Witches' prophecy and Lady Macbeth
• What does Macbeth's thought about murder reveal?

  His ambition and mental turmoil
• What is Macbeth's tragic flaw?

  His insatiable ambition
• How does Macbeth's ambition affect his mental state?

  It causes him mental distress and near insanity
• What does Macbeth compare his ambition to in Act One?

  A horse rider using a spur
• What does Macbeth admit about his ambition in Act One?

  It leads him to want to kill Duncan
• What does Ross imply about ambition in Act Two?

  It is an unnatural phenomenon
• How does Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth's actions?

  She criticizes his masculinity and urges him to kill
• What does Lady Macbeth fear about Macbeth's nature?

  That he is too kind to act on ambition
• What does Lady Macbeth's soliloquy reveal about her character?

  Her ambition and willingness to act on it
• How does Lady Macbeth's ambition compare to Macbeth's?

  She is more ruthless and single-minded
• How does Lady Macbeth's ambition challenge gender norms?

  She wields power over Macbeth, defying expectations
• What is the outcome of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's ambition?

  Both end up dead
• What does guilt represent in Macbeth?

  The result of ambition and its consequences
• How does blood symbolize guilt in Macbeth?

  It represents sin and the consequences of murder
• What does Macbeth say about the blood on his hands?

  It cannot be washed away
• How does Macbeth's character change throughout the play?

  From noble to a butcher and tyrant
• How does the audience perceive Macbeth's hallucinations of blood?

  As visual representations of his guilt
• How is Macbeth introduced in the play?

  As a brave soldier in battle
• What does the captain say about Macbeth's actions in battle?

  He describes Macbeth as "brave" and commendable
• How does blood's symbolism change throughout the play?

  From loyalty to guilt and sin
• What does Macbeth predict about his guilt?

  It will grow and cannot be washed away
• How does the motif of blood evoke reactions from the audience?

  It represents the visceral consequences of guilt
• What role do the three Witches play in influencing Macbeth's ambition?

  They provide prophecies that spark his ambition
• What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's character in the play?

  She is a catalyst for Macbeth's ambition and actions
• How do the relationship dynamics between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth evolve?

  Lady Macbeth initially holds more power over Macbeth
• How do societal expectations impact Lady Macbeth's actions?

  They pressure her to appear less ambitious